Friday Findings

Note:  I’m back!  This feature, and writing in general – have taken a backseat to life in recent months…..work travel, fun travel, a daughter getting married, major surgery – it’s been a struggle to find the time to pound the keyboard and produce words.  I’m hopeful that life is going to slow down a bit now, so I can get back to this weird thing called “writing”, which is always good medicine!

I’m a curious soul – with a wide range of nerdy and geeky interests, ranging from space exploration to theological concepts.  I often find interesting items when stumbling about on the internet – and on Friday’s I like to share my findings with you!

Is it too Late to Share Halloween Pumpkin Pics?

I’m gonna go with “no” – Halloween was exactly one week, one day ago – but today the window closes, so here we go….

If you’ve read long here, you know I love NASA.  I’ve also recently learned more about the Jet Propulsion Lab, thanks to some work related contracts and proposals – so, naturally this link caught my attention.  Each year, the engineers and support staff at JPL take a break from designing important space-y stuff, to design important Halloween Pumpkin-y stuff.  It’s a chance to show off their creativity using a different medium (are pumpkin guts, rinds and stems considered a medium for creativity?  Like say, clay?).  Check out this year’s results – Wow!  And here I thought that my Pumpkin Carving of Johnny Cash last year, was top notch…..  Smart People Engineering Pumpkins

Heavenly Spiders

I’ve already appreciated Randy Alcorn’s Biblical research, words and thinking on Heaven.  I’m of the opinion that there is so much we don’t know about what Heaven will be like, until we experience it ourselves – and I also think that the unknown-ness of it, is exactly how God intended our knowledge to be on this topic.  But in terms of what we are able to interpret from scripture, I think Alcorn is often spot on.  I really loved this article about whether they will be rodents or rats or spiders or creepy crawlies or any of the things many of us are not particularly fond of (MOSQUITOES), in heaven.  What a profound and interesting take he has here, and one that actually makes a tremendous amount of sense to me and that can also be extended to cover so many other questions.  Bugs in Heaven

Awkward Introvertedness

I can absolutely do the extrovert life.  I have to – it is part of my role at work, a part of my role at church, a part of my role in my family.  But, in reality, I am more introverted in nature.  I’d rather spend time alone, any day, than in a social gathering.  I find them exhausting, and I bumble through them feeling far more awkward than I probably actually am in reality – though, there are also plenty of times when I am awkward both in my mind and in my actions….a recent work trip reconfirmed that truth.  When The Gospel Coalition posted this prayer on their website, I was instantly drawn to it – for so many reasons.  It was a good reminder that God has created me uniquely, while at the same time, He also presents me with choices and a calling that, while at times may feel like the exact opposite of what I’d be more comfortable doing, is perfectly designed to display His grace, mercy and love:  A Prayer for Those Who Feel Awkward in Social Gatherings

Two Warm Fuzzy Stories

Story #1:  Making Things Right

When I University of Tennessee Florida fan wanted to participate in his school’s College Color Days, he didn’t have a UT shirt to wear – so he made one for himself.  His excitement over participating though, turned to discouragement thanks to a bunch of bullies, making fun of his homemade shirt.  His teacher wanted to make things right, by buying him an official UT shirt, and used social media to see if anyone had contacts at the University, to help make it even a bit more special.  The response was overwhelming.  The University of Tennessee not only sent the student a ton of UT branded swag, they also took his design, and made it into an official shirt.  That, my friends – is real good stuff:  UT T-Shirt Design

Story #2:  When Being Extra Brings Smiles

So – the county I live in, like most small counties, loves football.  York High School, where my kids all graduated from, is doing great this year, in the football arena.  It is something we all take pride in and enjoy.

Our county also contains some healthy competition, between the high schools.  Some good old fashion rivalry.  However, all of that was set aside in the last two weeks, as one of our high schools suffered a tremendous loss, when three teenagers – one of them a football player – died following the Homecoming Dance.  It’s been a terrible, devastating knife of grief and despair, of course, to their families and friends, but also the their school, and to the entire county – a moment to remember just how hard and tragic life can be.

Last weekend, we all paused to enjoy a chuckle together, in the midst of the grief, at this dad.  He’s now being affectionately called “Cheer Dad”, and if you watch the video, you’ll see why.  This video went viral this week; it’s been seen millions and millions of times, and was picked up by all of the major networks, starting Wednesday morning with the Today show and Good Morning America.  I even heard that Ellen has invited him onto the show.

Life will always contain suffering and grief, and questions of “Why, God?”  And, asking those questions is good and right.  Pouring out our souls to Him, in lament, is the right response.  Life will also always include little moments like Cheer Dad’s enthusiasm – moments that remind us to live and enjoy life fully – to be “all in” with our kids and our friends and our families.  To give whatever the task is at hand, everything we’ve got – and to not be so concerned about looking awkward.  To laugh and to not take ourselves so gosh-darn seriously, because laughter and fun are gifts to cherish.